Chris Browne, Retail Director at Jigsaw and 30 years at Ted Baker, on why Jigsaw opens stores while rivals close them. Fewer staff, less footfall, market towns, and the business rates fight with online giants.
Chris started with a paper round and built his career at Ted Baker London before moving to Jigsaw. His view of the UK high street is practical rather than nostalgic: trading is not tougher than in the 1970s, stores now work as showrooms and mini warehouses, and if a store is not delivering an experience, it is failing. He makes the case for moving some of the business rates burden onto the big online players, explains why Jigsaw earns customers rather than buying them, and says Gen Z found instant gratification in a shop.
Hosted by Alex Rezvan, Host of The Retail Podcast.
Timestamps
00:00 Cold open
00:20 Introduction
00:56 From a paper round to 30 years running Ted Baker
03:04 Trading is not tougher now than in the 1970s
05:56 Stores can work with fewer staff and less footfall
08:42 Market towns keep growing as commuting fades
10:23 Jigsaw does not buy customers, it earns them
12:28 If a store is not experiential, it is failing
16:24 Move the rates burden onto the big online players
19:21 Gen Z found instant gratification in a shop
29:24 Wrap
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